Gissendaner, Kuhn take first at HFC Open

Niagara County Community College had a pair of champions - Frankie Gissendaner and Anthony Kuhn - at this past weekend's Whizzer Open hosted by Henry Ford College.

Gissendaner, who is ranked No. 4 in the latest NJCAA 141-pound poll, won four matches on his way to a first-place finish. The sophomore knocked off Martrece Smith (Harper College), 7-2, in the finals. Gissendaner is now 11-0 on the season.

Kuhn took first place at 125 pounds for the second consecutive week. He was also the champion at the Jamestown Open. The freshman pinned Cody Woods (St. Cloud T&CC) at the 5:56 mark of the title bout. 

NCCC freshman Warren McDougald, who was battling injury and illness throughout, was a finalist at 174 pounds before dropping a narrow 5-4 decision to Ben Blickle (Ohio State Club) in the title match.

The Thunderwolves are slated to host Western New York Athletic Conference rival Jamestown Community College at 7 p.m. Wednesday for their lone home dual of the regular season.

Prior to the match, recent NCCC wrestling greats Troy Keller and Freddy Eckles will be inducted into the program's Wall of Fame.

Keller, a North Tonawanda native, was not only an NJCAA national champion at 165 pounds but also a two-time NJCAA All-American, two-time Region III champion, Region III Most Outstanding Wrestler and twice named an All-WNYAC selection. 

Eckles, an Angola native, was an NJCAA All-American, two-time Region III champion and two-time All-WNYAC choice at 133 pounds.